All About Sunglasses

For many people, sunglasses are the utmost of eye protection on a particularly sunny day. For others, they are a fashion statement, one that reflects their personality, style, purpose, affluence, and even prestige.

Eye Protection

Although the shape, style, and even color of sunglasses may change in fashion from year-to-year, their truest purpose dates back to the 19th century, when amber (brown) colored glasses were prescribed to protect patients of syphilis from the symptom of general photo-sensitivity (both indoors and out). As of the 20th century, physicians and scientists began to realize the full value of shielding and protecting the eyes from the visible and invisible rays of the sun.

Photokeratitis, snow blindness, cataracts, pterygium, and forms of eye cancer are all proven to be caused by ultraviolet radiation (also called UV rays), specifically UVB rays. UVA rays have not been proven to harm the human eye, so UVB is the only medical concern for which sunglasses serve a beneficial purpose. Today's sunglasses block out or reflect up to 100% of UVA and UVB light. UVC, the third type of UV, is not of issue to the human eye, as it is absorbed by the upper atmosphere.

Experts recommend that people wear sunglasses that not only reflect or filter up to 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB rays, but also that have wavelengths up to 400 nanometers (nm), a metric length equal to 400 billionths of a meter. Although they make being in sunlight much more comfortable for the eyes, sunglasses still do not protect the eyes from potential harm of looking directly at the sun.

Celebrity Appeal

Beyond the eye health as encouragement for wearing sunglasses, celebrities have long been tied to the wearing of sunglasses and thus promote the belief that prestige, celebrity, affluence, and fashion are associated with "shades." This connection to movies dates back to the earliest silent films, when the lights utilized for filming were so bright and damaging to the actors' eyes that they donned amber-colored lenses. By the 1920's, sunglasses were so in fashion on both coasts as people wanted to emulate their favorite movie stars that the first Foster Grant store offering affordable non-prescription "shades" opened on the boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Beaches never looked the same, as they became the true proving ground for both utility and fashion of emerging brands and styles of sunglasses.

How to Buy

When buying sunglasses, there are several factors to consider toward optimum fit to your lifestyle and needs. As mentioned above, if you are buying sunglasses, you should ensure that they are truly protective of your eyes. They should meet the full 99% to 100% UVA and UVB protection, as well as the 400 nm wavelengths (as a minimum).

Sunglasses also come in prescription and non-prescription variations, based upon your specific needs. If you cannot tell if your sunglasses offer the full UV protection, you can take them to your optometrist who can read their protection level utilizing an in-office machine.

If you will be enjoying sports or driving while wearing your sunglasses, polarized sunglasses lenses are generally highly recommended. When driving, polarized lenses reduce glare from a long, flat surface such as the hood of the car or the road's surface, as well as general glare in natural environments. There are some times you shouldn't wear polarized lenses, however. Those instances are when driving a boat, plane, or car if you are unable to discern the readings of the instrument panel because of your polarized lenses, or when downhill skiing, snowboarding, or snowmobiling, as you may not see icy patches that will result in your personal safety being compromised.

The color of the lenses can help you determine their effect on the way you see your surroundings, and thus the right color for your perfect pair:

• Gray and green lenses make colors appear true to their naturally occurring state, thus these lenses are considered "neutral."
• Brown lenses increase contrast of the environment, but cause some color distortion.
• Turquoise lenses are good at enhancing contrast, but do not cause significant color distortion. These are good for medium- and high-light conditions.
• Orange and yellow lenses increase both contrast and depth perception, as well as color distortion. Pilots, boaters, fishermen, and outdoorsmen tend to wear yellow lenses for their contrast enhancement and width perception properties.
• Blue, black, or purple lenses are mainly cosmetic.

When you decide what type and color you are seeking, you may find everything from wholesale-pricing and discount designer sunglasses online, all the way to the most prestigious (and thus most expensive) brands and styles that your favorite celebrity is wearing throughout the latest magazines.

If buying online, check out our guide on how to choose the perfect frame, or consider this quick reference for choosing the right shape and size of sunglasses for the shape of your face:

• Oval: If your face is oval-shaped, you can wear just about any shape lens
• Square: For a square shaped face, females should avoid squarish lenses, as they will play up harsh angles of the face. Rounded, curvy lenses are a better option to soften angles of the face. For men, squared lenses are still wearable, but aviator sunglasses may be best suited.
• Heart: Very small lenses will enlarge the perceived appearance of your face, and very narrow lenses will make your forehead appear disproportionately out of balance with your chin. Wider makes the top of the face appear wider, narrower makes the lenses appear to be straining against the size of the face. The most flattering are lenses that line up well with the temples (side of the forehead at its widest point).
• Oval: Aviators and very deep lenses (meaning large from eyebrow to cheekbone, vertically) fit this shape of face very well. Stay away from narrow lenses, such as the narrow “cat” style. If you wear lenses that are at or slightly beyond your temples, your face will appear broader (helpful to a very long and narrow face).
• Round: Round lenses will make your face rounder, so avoid those. Angled, semi-rimless, and cat shapes work very well on a round face.
• Triangle: To create balance to your face, very large sunglasses work well.

Was this article helpful? Know someone who would be interested?